Category: The Business of Massage

Blogging is all the new rage – there are travel blogs, cooking blogs, weight loss blogs, mommy blogs, fashion blogs, and, yes, even massage blogs.

Whether you are a massage therapist (or one in the making), you are in need of a massage therapist, or you are simply interested in the world of massage – there are a number of blogs that you could easily get lost in.

To give you a head start, we’ve pulled together what we feel are 25 massage therapist blogs you should follow. These blogs range in what they focus on, from sports massage, medical massage, relaxation, technique, and more – you’ll be a self-proclaimed expert on massage therapy in no time!

1. American Massage Therapy Association Blog

https://www.amtamassage.org

Following the newsfeed of the AMTA’s website is a great way for massage therapists to keep up to date with various events, publications, news stories, etc. within the world of massage therapy.

2. Shanti Living Wellness 

https://www.shantiliving-wellness.com/blog

Shanti Living is a great blog to follow for both therapists and clients alike, providing an array of information and reviews on topics related to yoga, massage therapy, and Ayurveda wellness.

3. Better Movement

https://www.bettermovement.org/blog/

Better Movement is a blog that focuses on the idea that the brain and nervous system have more control over pain that we think. It is a great informative resource for massage therapists, sports trainers, athletes, and those suffering chronic pain.

4. Pro Active Muscle Therapy

http://www.pro-activemuscletherapy.com/blog

This blog is all about the pro-active style approach to massage therapy, highlighting the importance of communication between masseuse and client, maintenance massages, and personal treatment plans. 

5. Busy Hive 

http://busyhive.co.uk

Busy Hike features a hodge-podge of entertaining, informative, and enlightening articles written by Holistic Masseuse Sinead with the aim of helping her readers understand the importance of massage therapy and how it can help them find clarity in their lives.

6. Massage Therapist Development Centre

https://themtdc.com

The MTDC blog is a great resource for therapists but its true mission is to transform the publics’ perception of massage therapy by posting information packed articles focusing on the value and power massage therapy provides.

7. The RMT Education Project

http://www.rmtedu.com/blog

The RMT blog is great for therapists, sports trainers, and athletes, as it looks at ideas, discoveries, and developments in the fields of sports medicine, neuroscience, pain physiology, and clinical anatomy.

8. Pain Science

https://www.painscience.com

Pain Science is self-proclaimed as written mainly for patients, containing hundreds of articles and self-help guides related to different treatment options for common aches and pains, but is also highly referenced for professionals seeking guidance or information. 

9. Zeel

https://www.zeel.com/blog/

Zeel is a great lifestyle and wellness blog with a focus on massage’s, their benefits, and some how-to’s for all you DIY fans.

10. Body In Mind

https://www.bodyinmind.org

Body in Mind is an initiative focused on researching the role of the brain and mind in relation to chronic pain. Their blog features a number of informative articles based on research and observations from their field of study as well as articles intended to spark discussion around certain topics.

11. Reddit – Massage

https://www.reddit.com/r/massage/comments/9k3tgq/deep_tissue_massage_questions/

Reddit is casual, yes, but for those of you employed in or simply interest in the field of massage therapy, their massage thread is a great way to be connected with likeminded individuals who can answer your questions, challenge your opinions, or simply engage in informative discussions with you.

12. Story Massage 

https://www.storymassage.co.uk

Story Massage is a concept that combines the benefits of positive, respectful touch with the creativity and engagement of story telling. This blog follows the journey that Story Massage has been on since its creation in 2013.

13. Acupuncture Massage College

https://www.amcollege.edu/blog

Not surprisingly, this blog, while providing informative articles on a variety of massage techniques and related topics, specifically highlights the powers of acupuncture. It is a great resource for professionals as well as individuals interested in receiving acupuncture.

14. Massagetique

https://www.massagetique.com/blog/

Of course we can’t not put ourselves on this list – here at Massagetique we strive to provide our readers with helpful resources, including informative articles and useful tips spanning a variety of massage therapy and bodywork techniques.

15. Massage Book

http://www.massagebook.com/massage-therapy/blog/

Massage Book is a great resource for clients who are interested in learning more about massage therapy as a broad subject. This blog is home to a number of articles ranging from informative posts, comparison posts, and even how-to posts.

16. Body and Mind 

http://www.body-mindmassage.com/blog/

Body and Mind is really intended to inspire individuals to trust in the power of massage. It is a great follow option for anyone interested in massage therapy as a treatment for injury, pain, or even just for relaxation, as well as being a great resource for those employed in the industry.

17. Elements Massage

https://elementsmassage.com/blog

Elements Massage is committed to improving your health and wellness. In person they do this through their massage sessions, but they also hold this commitment close when it comes to their online presence, providing informative, educational, and inspirational content for their readers.

18. Practical Massage

https://www.practicalmassage.com/blog

Practical Massage is all about providing their readers with informative articles highlighting the concepts and benefits of a variety of different massage techniques.

19. All Body Kneads

http://allbodykneads.com

All Body Kneads takes a unique approach to massage therapy blogging by focusing specifically on the types of massage therapy that are most beneficial to their readers based what type of work they do.

20. Human Touch Body Work Blog

https://humantouchbodywork.com/spa-blog/

Written by professional massage therapists with experience both in the industry and as patients dealing with athletic related injuries, the purpose of Human Touch is to enlighten active individuals on the importance and benefits of professional massages.

21. Engaging Muscles

https://www.engagingmuscles.com

Engaging Muscles is a blog designed to enlighten readers on the power of deep tissue massage for the elimination of pain, enhancement of performance, and prevention of injury.

22. Medical Massage Group

http://themedicalmassagegroup.com/mmg-blog/

Medical Massage Group’s blog highlights how massage therapy can be used to treat, heal, or aid in various medical situations such as for different mental and physical ailments, during pregnancies, etc.

23. Champaka Thai Massage Blog 

https://www.champakathaimassage.com/blog/

Champaka teaches their readers everything there is to know about Thai massages, from origins, evolution, technique, and even the different varieties of Thai massage around the world today. It is a great resource for both therapists and those seeking Thai massage treatment who would like to learn more.

24. Make the Most of Massage

https://www.makethemostofmassage.com/activate/

Written by certified Neuromuscular Massage Therapist Mark Liskey, Make the Most is focused on helping aspiring massage therapists find their path and get started on turning their passion for massage therapy into a successful and rewarding career.

25. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals

https://www.abmp.com/updates/blog-posts

The ABMP blog is a great combination of inspirational posts, how-to’s, informative articles, webinars, etc., aimed at helping massage therapists continue their education and broaden their horizons.

Do you already follow any of these blogs? Are there any more you swear by?

For most fields of study, it is obvious that continuing education is not only important, but is a necessity.

Techniques are constantly evolving to become more effective and efficient and ideologies are always changing and progressing. Not to mention the constant influx of new information, facts, problems, and solutions we gain from ongoing research that changes the way we see our jobs and the requirements asked of us, and the technological breakthroughs that change the ways we carry out our jobs all together.

If this is true, and expected, for professions such as accounting, nursing, or teaching, then why would it not be true for massage therapy?

The importance of continuing education for massage therapists is often under-credited.

Those who aren’t trained in massage therapy often view massages simply as a feel-good way to relax at the end of a stressful week, or something to indulge in while on a beach vacation – but there is more to the discipline than that. Those who are part of the profession * should * understand that, and subsequently, the importance of not only being open to continuous learning but striving for it.

To answer your question of how important continuing education is for massage therapists – it is very important. Keep reading below to find out why.

Why Continuing Education is Important For Massage Therapists

Massage therapy may not be a perfectly established or understood practice, but it is a complex one. It involves spirituality and science working together in a blend of knowledge and creative understanding that requires carefully executed techniques and processes. Of course one of the most important aspects of evolving and improving your practice, as a massage therapist, is experience – but experience will not teach you everything.

Experience is imperative to your practice – being able to find your style, hone in on your technique, learning how to approach different real-life situations, and build relationships with your clients – but these aspects of your practice also rely on an educational foundation.

This foundation is created during your initial certification courses and training – you learn the history, the ideologies, and, of course, the technical aspects surrounding your chosen focus – but it does not end there.

However, while continuing education is ideal for all massage therapists, the degree of importance for such does have some dependency on the “track” of massage therapy that you are practicing. In the broadest terms, there are two tracks: personal care service and healthcare modality.

Personal Care Service vs. Healthcare Modality

As we’ve said before, continuing education is important for you, as a massage therapist, no matter which path you have chosen. However, certain fields of massage therapy do require continuing education more seriously than others.

In terms of personal care service, continuing education is more or less an additional benefit – you can enhance your technique and skills in a way that will benefit your practice and your clients. In terms of healthcare modality, it is a matter of necessity – the health and safety of your clients, in this track, demands continuing education.

Personal Care Service

This “genre” shall we say, of massage therapy holds a focus on general relaxation and wellness enhancement. These massages are meant to be enjoyable, relaxing, and stress relieving, but are not used as specific treatments for any type of pain, injury, or illness.

Healthcare Modality

Massages under this track are intended specifically to address and eliminate pain and treat injury in your clients. For this reason, continuing education is a must. A massage performed incorrectly or where not necessary brings with it the potential to harm or injure the client even further.

It’s A Requirement

While it would make sense that each of the previously mentioned tracks would have different requirements because of their extremely different natures that is not the case. Because there are no actual licensing differences to distinguish those in the personal care service track and those in the healthcare modality track, it would be impossible to dictate and enforce different educational requirements.

For this reason, continuing education is actually, by default, a requirement for all in the massage therapy profession.

This may seem a burden to those in the personal care service track who feel that they don’t need it, or those who simply feel that experience outweighs anything they could learn in a classroom, but it should not.

It’s imperative to understand the importance of continuing education for everyone.

Here are some examples of how continuing education is important to any practicing massage therapist. Continuing education:

• Fills in the gaps from your basic training – even the best licensing programs don’t prepare you perfectly for the complexity of clinic work, continuing education will make you more confident and competent when working with clients
• Protects the public – there are instances where the wrong type of massage in the wrong area can cause more harm than good, and the more education you have the better you will be able to avoid such situations
• Benefits your practice – the more additional training courses you take, the more opportunity you have to either diversify your practice more or master one specific field of massage therapy
• Sets you above the rest – clients will feel more confident with a therapist who has multiple credentials and shows their willingness and desire to continue their education to better themselves and their skills

The Answer Is Clear

As you can see, continuing education is invaluable in the benefits it will provide not only to you as a therapist and to your practice, but to your clients as well. It should be something you strive for as a professional.

Continuing education is not just about learning a few “new moves” – it’s about understanding and embracing your skills, utilizing and changing techniques to suit your clients needs, approaching new or challenging situations with the knowledge and confidence to make a difference, and about understanding and building on the relationships you have with your clients.

References

1. https://www.massagetique.com/blog/business-of-massage/12-characteristics-of-a-top-massage-therapy-school/
2. https://www.academyofclinicalmassage.com/the-role-of-continuing-education-for-massage-therapists/
3. https://bodyinmindinstitute.com/continuing-education-important-massage-therapists/

Cultivating an online presence for your business has predictable pros and cons. Expanding any type of marketing can lead to dramatic improvements in the way your practice gets found and the number of potential clients who contact you. But an online presence can also result in more feedback than you’re used to–both positive and negative.

Sure, Miss Manners might advise visiting a business and offering complaints in person before jumping on the internet to register offense, but it’s increasingly clear her wise words often fall by the wayside. Though some may say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, it’s important to know how to interact with your online audience to best serve your practice.

Why Respond at All?

Think about the last time you were researching a business online–a restaurant, for example. You might visit their website to check out the menu ahead of time or see their hours of operation, but you likely also want to know what other people are saying about the service, the food, the cost value, and more. You might have checked Facebook, Yelp, Angie’s List, or Better Business Bureau for reviews.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you are not forming an overall impression of the business only by reading what previous patrons have to say; you are also looking for a professional response to these comments. If an employee of the establishment responded extremely defensively, blamed the patron in some way, or was otherwise rude in return, that would likely influence what you thought of the business.

Similarly, your opinion may be swayed if the company did not address any of the concerns logged by customers. You might wonder whether those issues have been addressed or whether the company cared at all about working to fix the problems mentioned. A simple acknowledgement of any comment demonstrates the business owner’s commitment to customer satisfaction. Even if the individual commenter never visits the establishment again, the interaction reflects positively on the business in the eyes of future visitors doing research.

Responding to Positive Comments

Taking compliments and kudos is the easy part of managing your online presence. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking kind words can simply be left alone; even a glowing review deserves a thoughtful response. People don’t often take to the internet to say something nice, so take the time to address individuals who verbally appreciate your services. “Thank you!” goes a long way on its own, but here are more ways you can acknowledge their gesture:

• I’m honored by your kind words. Thank you!
• It was a pleasure to meet you! I hope to see you again soon.
• Please let me know if I can do any more to aid your healing.
• I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling better!

Addressing Negative Feedback

Receiving criticism can feel like a punch to the stomach–especially because the internet offers a special kind of anonymity people often feel comfortable using with abandon. The occasional bodywork session might go poorly, for whatever reason. Or, you may do everything right and feel a special rapport with a client, but that person still fixates on the one aspect of their experience beyond your control. Reclaim the interaction by recognizing the person’s opinion and graciously replying in the most appropriate way you can.

If something is particularly hurtful or damaging, or if it may endanger your practice altogether, some platforms do allow you to delete comments. However, remember word-of-mouth is powerful, and someone may feel emboldened enough by your attempts to eliminate the feedback to criticize further. In fact, it can reflect positively on your business if you’re willing to let negative reviews sit with your courteous responses to them.

When you first see a highly critical comment about you or your practice, take a deep breath. An emotionally charged response may be tinted with anger and less likely to reflect your true compassion and understanding. Put yourself in the commenter’s shoes and try your best to adopt their perspective. Rather than making excuses or going overboard to explain a backstory for the person’s complaints, make constructive suggestions and offer an apology, if appropriate. Thank them for offering their viewpoints, and focus on moving past the offense.

Some responses that may work:

• I would love to speak with you personally about this experience. Please get in touch with me when it’s convenient for you.
• The issues you mention are things I am actively working toward resolving. I appreciate your patience as this process happens.
• I would never want a client to have the experience you mention. I hope you will let me remedy this situation and offer a better service in the future!

The way you respond to any commenter, critical or otherwise, can make more of an impact than the original post on visitors and potential clients who are researching your practice. Invest a bit of time in addressing any comments you receive, and your online presence will be better for it.

Reference:

• Martin, J. (2010). Complain in person before jumping online. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.uexpress.com/miss-manners/2010/2/28/complain-in-person-before-jumping-online